UF hoops faces tough test tonight

By Kevin BrockwayStaff writer

Friday

Nov 27, 2009 at 12:01 AM

Florida coach Billy Donovan and Michigan State coach Tom Izzo already have played against each other with a national championship at stake.

Florida coach Billy Donovan and Michigan State coach Tom Izzo already have played against each other with a national championship at stake. Combined, they’ve won 654 games, three national titles and led teams to eight Final Four appearances. The two college basketball coaching heavyweights will square off for the fifth time today when Florida plays No. 2 Michigan State in the semifinals of the Legends Classic. Izzo is 3-1 lifetime against Donovan, including an 89-76 win in 2000 that clinched his lone national title. Yet the game at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., will present teams with different expectations. Michigan State returns three starters from a team that reached the NCAA Finals and is expected to make another Final Four trip this season. Florida is in its third season of a rebuilding project after back-to-back NIT appearances. “I can feel for Billy,” Izzo said. “We lost Zach Randolph and Jason Richardson as underclassmen and had a few down seasons. There are so few schools out there that just reload. The rest of us have to rebuild. “When you lose kids every year as underclassmen, it can take a toll on a program.” Florida has lost six underclassmen the last three years to either the NBA Draft or, in the case of former point guard Nick Calathes, a professional contract overseas. But the Gators showed signs of growth in a 68-52 win Tuesday night against Florida State. Florida (4-0) has taken a blue-collar approach early this season, winning with defense by holding its first four opponents to under 40 percent shooting.“We are all very confident in our team,” said Florida senior forward Dan Werner. “I’m going into Friday thinking we have nothing to lose. No one thinks we can win. What do we have to lose? That’s how we’re going to play the game.”Werner, a former Mr. Basketball in the state of New Jersey, said he has close to 100 ticket requests for family and friends. Florida junior forward Chandler Parsons also has New Jersey ties. Parsons’ grandfather, Don Parsons, was a former basketball player at Rutgers and plans to attend the game.“We got some respect in the state and the region,” Parsons said of the win against FSU. “This game coming up Friday could really put us on the map nationwide.”Parsons is averaging 13 points and eight rebounds off the bench for the Gators this season. “We definitely have a group of guys that believe we can win the game,” Parsons said. “We’re going in there as the underdog but we have the mentality that we’re going to go and win the game, keep it at our pace and do whatever it takes.”Izzo and Donovan have been around basketball long enough to know how quickly fortunes can change. Izzo is in his 15th season at Michigan State. Donovan is in his 14th season as Florida.The two first developed a relationship on the recruiting trail as young assistant coaches. Izzo worked under Michigan State icon Jud Heathcote. Donovan worked under Rick Pitino at Kentucky.“We came into coaching at about the same time,” Donovan said. “I’ve always enjoyed watching Tom’s career. He has great humility and a great personality.”Izzo can surpass Heathcote’s record for coaching victories (340) at Michigan State with a win tonight.“Jud Heathcote was always a pretty funny guy,” Donovan said. “I can remember one time we were at an event in Michigan and there was a big fight, Larry Holmes may have been fighting or something. And Tom kept asking Jud, hey, when can I get out here and watch the fight. At an event in Kalamazoo (Mich.), I remember Tom and I being together and making each other laugh.”Donovan and Izzo also have been around coaching long enough to spawn significant coaching trees. Izzo’s tree includes former assistants Stan Heath at USF, Tom Crean at Indiana, Doug Wojcik at Tulsa, Brian Gregory at Dayton and Jim Boylen at Utah. Donovan’s tree includes John Pelphrey at Arkansas, Anthony Grant at Alabama, Donnie Jones at Marshall and Shaka Smart at Virginia Commonwealth.“I really believe in order to really have true and great success, it’s all about the people that you surround yourself with,” Donovan said. “I’ve been fortunate that I’ve surrounded myself with a lot of really good players over the years and I’ve surrounded myself with a lot of really good coaches that have been able to go on and do it themselves.”Contact Kevin Brock way at 352-374-5054 or at brockwk@gvillesun.com.

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